RAMNATH Vs. MANGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard finally with the consent of the parties.

(2.) This case exemplifies a lack of sportsmanship and electoral spirit. Instead of spending time on the social work, a doctor by profession is spending time on the litigation. Even after the two competent authorities gave their verdict, he dragged the publicelected members of the Village Panchayat to the High Court. That shows the changing shape of Indian democracy. No one leaves a single stone unturned. The politicians take pride in showing each other down. The politicians appear to have diverted from their primary responsibility to ensure public administration is conducted impartially and neutrally. They also appear to have forgotten that the quality of a good politician is a vision and the power to implement that vision. They are supposed to take the state forward, make the commoner's life easy and comfortable, and educate people. Not only this, but the parties to the petition tried to involve the government machinery to prove that they were and were not in a position to submit statements of election expenses within the time prescribed by the election commissioner.

(3.) The election of the Village Panchayat was declared on 18/1/2021. Admittedly, the elected members/contesting respondents had submitted their accounts on 17/2/2021. However, the affidavit, as required to be submitted with the statement of election expenses, was sworn in on 18/2/2021 and submitted to the office on 22/2/2021. Fortunately, both parties agree that on 19/2/2021, there was Shiv Jayanti. On 20/2/2021, it was Saturday, and on 21/2/2021, it was a Sunday. Therefore, the office was closed.